(From left) John Estrada, Priscilla Meirelles, Pokwang, Andrei Sison. FILE PHOTOS
The month of March ended with a bang as an unexpected death, legal battles and yet another cheating allegation became the talk of the town.
Emerging GMA artist Andrei Sison’s life was tragically cut short following a car accident, while Pokwang seemed to be bracing for a legal battle against estranged partner Lee O’Brian with the help of a high-profile lawyer. Priscilla Meirelles, meanwhile, caught the attention of netizens after making a cryptic post hinting on her marital problems with husband, actor John Estrada.
Other news that became the staple subjects of conversation were Gloria Romero and Caridad Sanchez denying claims of peddling a type of essential oil, and Liza Soberano embracing her newfound, sultry self in a recent photoshoot.
Here are some of the showbiz news that took over INQUIRER.net’s headlines from the week of March 24 to 30.
Shocked over fraud
Gloria Romero (left) and Caridad Sanchez
Maritess Gutierrez, daughter of veteran actress Gloria Romero as well as Caridad Sanchez’s daughter Cathy Babao released statements saying that their respective mothers had never issued support for a type of essential oil that claimed to benefit the mental and physical well-being of the elderly.
The essential oil’s site featured “testimonials” of the two actresses, as well as those of a supposed neurologist, a physician, a housewife, a college student and a high school student.
“It’s terrible how these alleged companies are using the names and faces of two highly respected actresses. What’s worse is that my mom and Tita Caridad are super seniors already!” Gutierrez said.
On the other hand, Babao, who learned about the ad from a friend, was shocked that the company would take advantage of two senior actresses who are now quietly living their lives away from the limelight.
“I knew right away it was a fraud because my mom doesn’t even know about that product, and the testimonial attributed to her does not sound like her at all. The bigger sin for me is that they are taking advantage of Tita Gloria and my mom’s credibility to sell a product to other seniors who might be easily fooled by their false and fraudulent claims,” she said.
Gutierrez and Babao are reportedly set to take legal action against the fraudulent online advertisement.
READ: Daughters of veteran actresses release statement on fraud claims
Andrei Sison, 17
Andrei Sison. Image: Instagram/@sparklegmaartistcenter
Emerging GMA teen artist Andrei Sison passed away at the age of 17 on March 24 after figuring in a car accident, as confirmed by talent agency Sparkle GMA Artist Center on Instagram.
“Sparkle GMA Artist Center sadly announces the passing of one [of its] teen artists Andrei Sison, due to a car accident early this morning,” it said in a statement on March 24. “He was a well-loved and much cherished member of the Sparkle family,” it stated. “We will miss you, Andrei. Be with God now.
One of Sison’s most notable appearances include a minor role in the Mikhail Red-helmed flick “Dead Kids” in 2019.
READ: GMA artist Andrei Sison dies due to car accident
‘What to call a female that entertains a married man?’
John Estrada (left) and wife Priscilla Meirelles
Priscilla Meirelles, wife of actor John Estrada, intrigued fans after she dropped a cryptic remark about a “female that entertains a married man,” as well as a quote urging a man to “change” on social media.
The Brazilian beauty queen took to her Instagram account to ask her followers, “What [do you call] a female that entertains [a] married man?” The post has since expired but had been re-uploaded by netizens on social media.
Image: Instagram/@primeirelles
Meirelles, who tied the knot with Estrada in 2011, then showed in a separate post a list of answers from netizens, quipping how her vocabulary increased with “new meaningful words” including “linta,” “makati,” “homewrecker” and “entertainer,” among others.
Image: Instagram/@primeirelles
She also shared a post from Instagram user @thinkingmindspage which called on men to change into a person whose qualities they would want for their daughters’ partners. “Imagine you have a daughter. Imagine she is dating a guy like you. Did you smile? No? Then change,” it said.
Estrada, however, has yet to issue a comment as of this writing.
READ: Priscilla Meirelles goes cryptic as she asks: ‘What to call a female that entertains a married man?’
A sultrier Liza
Liza Soberano via BJ Pascual. Image from Instagram / @lizasoberano
Liza Soberano appeared set in coming out of her shell and shedding her sweet, wholesome image in a photoshoot that showed off a bit of her sensuality, which was uploaded on Instagram last March 23.
Soberano again dished out something to talk about when she posed for photos in what looked like a retro-inspired fashion setting, as captured by master lensman BJ Pascual. The shoot appeared to be in collaboration with luxury brand Gucci.
In the pictures, the actress was wearing a pink see-through mini dress over a black bandeau, her long legs encased in a pair of green snakeskin knee-high boots. She had a long, black necktie loosely wrapped around her neck. Her eyes were smokey in striking teal-blue eyeshadow, while her long tresses were tousled just so, reminiscent of the ’60s era. Behind her was a vintage television and some neon lights.
The look was put together by stylist Patrick Perez and curated by Liz Uy, while hair and makeup were by Robbie Piñera and Raymond Santiago.
READ: LOOK: Liza Soberano exudes sultry vibes in retro-inspired photo shoot
Pokwang vs Lee O’Brian: court edition
Pokwang with one Atty. Ralph Calinisan. Image: Instagram/@itspokwang27
Pokwang appeared to be taking her domestic woes with estranged partner Lee O’Brian to court over the custody of and child support for their daughter Malia, after she tapped a high-profile law firm to represent her.
While she did not specifically disclose the case she would be filing, Pokwang was in fighting form when she appeared at the Calinisan Domingo and Beron law offices, of which public interest lawyer Ralph Calinisan is a founding partner, as seen on Instagram last March 28.
Calinisan is also the boyfriend of actress Dawn Chang, who Pokwang met during the 2022 presidential campaign for former Vice President Leni Robredo.
“Thank you atty. @ralph_calinisan [emojis] #tuloylanglabanparasakinabukasan. Hindi ako susuko para sayo anak @malia_obrian kung naitaguyod ko si ate ng mag isa, mas lalo ako magsisipag at magiging matapang para sayo at sa inyo ng ate mo,” she said. (Thank you, Atty. Ralph Calinisan. The fight for our future continues. I am not going to give up for you, my daughter Malia. If I can raise my eldest daughter alone, I will continue to work hard and be courageous for you and your older sister.) /ra
READ: Pokwang braces for legal battle vs ex Lee O’Brian, taps high profile lawyer